Reuters Sports News Summary

June 19, 2012|Reuters

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Heat primed to reverse fortunes in this Game Four

MIAMI (Reuters) - The Miami Heat and their Big Three ofLeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have waited a year forthis, a chance to erase the taste of an NBA Finals collapseafter again taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championshipseries. Teams winning Game Three to grab a 2-1 lead in theFinals have gone on to win the title 85 percent of the time,but it did not happen for Miami last year against the DallasMavericks, who won the next three games for their first NBAcrown.

Psychologist in trial says Sandusky has personalitydisorder

BELLEFONTE, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - A psychologist calledby the defense in the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse trialtestified on Tuesday that the former Penn State assistantfootball coach suffers from a personality disorder that ischaracterized by a deep need for attention and may lead toinappropriate, sexually seductive behavior. Elliot Atkins, animportant defense witness, told jurors he spent six hoursinterviewing the 68-year-old Sandusky, who is accused ofsexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period.

LeBron hits back at Ibaka over defense slam

MIAMI (Reuters) - LeBron James and Serge Ibaka added alittle spice to Tuesday's NBA Finals showdown between the MiamiHeat and Oklahoma City Thunder when they engaged in some verbalsparring ahead of Game Four. James, like Ibaka a member of theNBA's All-Defensive First Team, received credit for holding theThunder's three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant to justfour points in the fourth quarter of Sunday's Game Threevictory that gave Miami a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

England's luck changes as Rooney heads winner

DONETSK (Reuters) - A Wayne Rooney header and a slice ofluck when Ukraine were controversially denied an equalizer gaveEngland a 1-0 win over the co-hosts and a place in thequarter-finals of Euro 2012 on Tuesday. Rooney headed home aSteven Gerrard cross when he was left unmarked at the far postafter 48 minutes to celebrate his return to the side afterserving a two-match ban.

American Eaton ready to chase decathlon record

EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - Watching American Ashton Eatoncompete is to view the future of the decathlon. Already theworld record holder in the indoor multi-events, the 24-year-oldappears mentally and physically ready to challenge Czech RomanSebrle's 2001 world decathlon record of 9.026 points.

Shevchenko to retire from international football

DONETSK (Reuters) - Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenkoannounced he will retire from international football after hiscountry's elimination from Euro 2012 with a 1-0 defeat byEngland on Tuesday. Shevchenko, the finest player Ukraine hasproduced since independence from the Soviet Union, toldreporters he intends to says his farewell in a friendly gamebefore standing down from national team duty.

Ugly France through after Sweden loss

KIEV (Reuters) - France drew a line under embarrassingfirst-round exits at two major championships when they scrapedinto the Euro 2012 quarter-finals in ugly fashion following a2-0 defeat by eliminated Sweden on Tuesday. On a hot and humidnight at the Olympic stadium, Les Bleus, who face European andworld champions Spain in Donetsk on Saturday, were undone by asublime Zlatan Ibrahimovic strike and a late goal fromSebastian Larsson and finished second in Group D behindEngland.

WARSAW (Reuters) - England and France took the last placesin a heavyweight final eight at Euro 2012 on Tuesday, withUkraine joining co-hosts Poland on the sidelines after a 1-0loss to the English marred by a controversial disallowed goal.In a tournament heavy on goals and drama but relatively free ofdebatable refereeing decisions, the row over Marco Devic'sdisallowed effort after an hour, which television replayssuggested may have crossed the line, left a bitter taste.